Etienne Delport (Etienne Delport):
Sunday, 20 July 2008
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The Sign of the Four
A Sherlock Holmes adventure by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This, the second Sherlock Holmes novel, introduces us to a more human Sherlock and also to Dr Watson's future wife.
We find a bored Sherlock discussing the Science of Deduction with Dr Watson while indulging in cocaine. During this discussion they receive a unexpected visit from a Miss Mary Morstan. She had with her a flat box containing six exquisite pearls which had been sent to her during the preceding six years, one pearl per year. In addition she had a letter which she had received that very day and which stated, inter alia, that she has been wronged and shall have justice. The writer also exhorts her to meet him as per his instructions. This is just the kind of mystery that Sherlock thrives upon and our amateur sleuth has no hesitation in deciding to assist the lady.
Holmes and Watson arrange to accompany Mary Morstan when she goes to meet her mysterious benefactor. In this manner we are introduced to Thaddeus Sholto. He takes them to Pondicherry Lodge where his brother Bartholomew resides. Upon their arrival they find Bartholomew dead, killed by a poison dart. The room where he died was locked from the inside and the windows bolted. Next to the dead man's hand is a note with "The sign of the four" written on it. The policeman that arrives to investigate is Inspector Athelney Jones. The stage is set for another Sherlock masterpiece.
Who is the mysterious one-legged man? Is there really a pygmy involved in the mystery? Holmes calls on Toby, a blood-hound, to help him but this ends in failure. The Baker Street Irregulars are then called in to assist Holmes. Their leader, Wiggins, is instructed by Holmes to search for a steam launch called Aurora owned by Mordecai Smith. Thus the solution starts to unfold and Holmes once again solves the crime successfully. We learn how a friendship formed in India turned sour, what role the Andaman Islands play in the mystery and about treasure stolen. The climax of the story is a well-written river chase where the culprit is apprehended. In the meanwhile Dr Watson and Miss Morstan has fallen in love and will marry in the future. Overall a much better written story than A Study in Scarlet. I would rate it 7/10
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